Celtic’s Villarreal conundrum

There was one Celtic link to this week’s Champions League quarter-finals. 

Back in 2004, just after beating Barcelona, Celtic came a crocker in the UEFA Cup when they lost out of Villarreal for a place in the semi-finals. 

On the park Celtic lost out but off it the locals took a real shine to the visiting fans, so much so that a Celtic Supporters Club was set up with links built between both sets of supporters. 

@CelticSubmariVr sou els més grans!!! pic.twitter.com/4WWsBiTjBP

— josepoider (@josepoider) April 6, 2022

Last night Villarreal enjoyed a 1-0 home win over Bayern Munich which ironically could provide a threat to the hopes of this season’s Scottish champions going straight into next season’s Champions League group stage. 

Celtic are strong favourites in Scotland but the group stage place is dependent on this season’s Champions League winners already having a place booked in next season’s competition. 

Villarreal are currently in seventh place in La Liga, 12 points off fourth place and a place in next season’s competition. 

Should they hold on to their lead against Bayern they will be into the semi-finals of the Champions League, some Celtic fans will be rooting for the outsider in among the usual suspects but taking the big cup back to the Madrigal could force Celtic into a qualifier to reach next season’s competition. 

A further complication involves whether or not Russian clubs will be allowed to compete in next season’s UEFA completions. 

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